Police Blotter – May 25, 2012

[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of May 25, 2012. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]

CAPTAIN ERIC VINTERO’S MESSAGE
You are cordially invited to attend a special community meeting on Monday, June 4, from 6 to 8 PM. Come hear District Attorney George Gascón discuss the expansion of the Neighborhood Prosecutor and Neighborhood Courts program.

DA Gascón launched a new initiative in May 2011 to quickly resolve low level crimes through community leadership and restorative justice. Low level crimes will be immediately referred to the neighborhood court neighborhood panels for non-criminal resolutions that combine accountability with neighborhood improvement.

DA Gascón will be joined by Supervisor Eric Mar, and Richmond Station Captain Eric Vintero. At the meeting, you will learn about the new model, get a chance to dialogue with the DA, and learn how you can volunteer to serve as a neighborhood court adjudicator. The meeting will be held at:

Richmond District Station Community Room
461 6th Avenue / Bet. Geary Blvd. and Anza Street
6-8PM

For more information about the meeting, please call Rebecca Prozan, Rebecca.prozan@sfgov.org, 558.2449 or Jackson Gee, 575.6328 or Jackson.Gee@sfgov.org.

Notes from the Richmond Station May 15th community meeting:

Guest Speaker, Anthony Crescenti (District Manager for Recology) spoke about many of the services that Recology provides. Anthony Crescenti wanted all Richmond residents to know about the “Bulky Item Collection Program”:

Each residential unit with a Recology Sunset Scavenger account has up to two free curbside pick-ups per year of 10 large items. Get rid of your mattresses, old furniture, and other bulky items and Recology will make sure they are recycled. Simply call Recology Sunset Scavenger at (415)330-1300 to schedule an appointment for pick-up.

John F. Kennedy Drive Cycle Track (Golden Gate Park)
During the question answer session of the meeting, several Richmond residents expressed their concern for traffic safety on the newly configured JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park. Many of the residents in attendance stated that the newly configured streets were too narrow for vehicles and created a safety hazard.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is soliciting feedback regarding the bicycle track on JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park. For more information, or to provide feedback, Please contact the SFMTA via sfmta.com/bike, or call 415-554-2398.

Our next Community meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at 7pm. It will be in the Community Room, here at Richmond Station, 461 6th Ave.

NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 05/16/12 at 11:30pm, a robbery occurred on Masonic at Turk St . The victim was walking on Masonic when he saw the two suspects and felt they were “up to something.” He crossed to the other side of the street to avoid them and the suspect ran over and confronted him. One suspect stood in front of him, brandishing a knife and told the victim to hand over his stuff. The victim gave the suspect his phone and wallet. The suspects fled west on Turk St. Ten minutes later, another robbery occurred at Anza and Arguello, where two suspects approached a second victim. One of the suspects held and object wrapped in a cloth, up to the victims face, while grabbing his bag. The victim began screaming for help and the suspects ran into Rossi Playground. Numerous officers responded to the scene and detained one of the suspects on Edward St . The officers located property taken from the victim at Anza and Arguello, but also located the cell phone belonging to the victim from Masonic and Turk. A 16 year old male was charged with two counts of robbery.

On 05/17/12 at 8:20pm, plainclothes officers were south on Funston towards Anza. They observed 5 males standing at the rear driveway of the SFFD firehouse which is on 12th Ave. One of the males was writing on the wall and when the officers made a u-turn to come back and talk to the males, they jumped into their car and took off. The officers followed the vehicle to Balboa and 11th Ave , where they stopped for the officers. The five occupants were detained. The driver was determined to be the suspect who had done the graffiti and was also in possession of marijuana. Another occupant had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for driving under the influence. They were charged accordingly.

On 05/19/12 at 12:56am, officers were on Fulton and 18th Ave when they observed the suspect walking waving his hands in the air and looking up towards the sky. They stopped to see if he was in need of assistance and recognized him from previous contacts. They noticed his speech was rapid and he appeared to be very excitable. They asked him if he had any weapons and he told them that he did and started to reach for his rear waistband. They ordered him to stop and found a knife with a blade of 8 inches in length concealed in his waistband. They also found him to be in methamphetamine. The 36 year old male was charged with weapon and narcotic violations.

On 05/20/12 at 12:24pm, officers working the Bay to Breakers were flagged down in the area of JFK Drive and 8th Ave. A passerby alerted them to a physical assault that was occurring just west of them. They were told that this male had assaulted several people and dragged one woman by her hair. As they arrived on scene, numerous pedestrians were pointing to a male wearing a tie dye shirt. As the officers approached the male and attempted to detain him, he tensed up and tried to pull away. He began to violently struggle with the officers and spat on them. Officers called for additional units to assist them while the suspect continued to fight and scream incoherently. With the assistance of other officers, they were finally able to place him into custody. The officers then learned that the male had been talking to himself and eating grass. The first victim saw his odd behavior and moved away from where she was sitting. A short time later, the same male came up from behind her and grabbed her by the hair, lifted her off the ground dragged her across the lawn. The victim was screaming at him to stop and at one point he let go and walked around the victim and kicked her dog. He then picked up the dog and threw him; however the dog was on a leash and was jerked back. The second victim came over to help the first woman and the suspect now turned his attention to her. The suspect then grabbed the second woman by her hair and threw her to the ground. Several others came to her aid and fought the suspect off of her and she was able to get away. A security officer arrived on scene and approached the suspect who then punched the guard in the face. As the security guard bent down to pick up his glasses, the suspect spat blood on him. The 21 year old male was charged with aggravated assault, false imprisonment, vandalism, being under the influence of drugs and resisting arrest.

On 05/21/12 at 10:12am, officers were called to the 1800 block of Divisadero on a report of a male who was stealing a motorcycle. The caller stated that the suspect seemed to be tampering with the ignition of the bike and was talking to the motorcycle. He then got on the bike and coasted down the hill where he was intercepted by the responding officers. They asked the male if the bike belonged to him and he replied “No.” They asked if he knew the owner and he answered “Not really.” While the were detaining the suspect, the owner of the bike walked up to them and said he did not know the suspect, nor did he have permission to take his bike. The 34 year old male was charge with auto theft.

On 05/23/12 at 12:04am, officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a moving violation at 15th and Geary. The driver had a suspended license and had two outstanding arrests warrants for narcotic violations from Alameda County. He also had a warrant for his arrest from the Hayward Police Dept for battery.

On 05/24/12 at 2:00pm at 3431 California St , and at 2:06pm at 3565 California St , two banks were robbed by the same male suspect. In both instances, he entered the bank and showed the teller a handgun he had in his bag and demanded money. He fled east on California St . At 3:06pm, a bank was robbed by the same man on the 1500 block of Van Ness Ave. Several persons followed the suspect and he was taken into custody. The 48 year old male was charged with robbery and possession of stolen property.

On 05/25/12 at 12:57am, officers were called to the 300 block of Walnut on a report of a burglary that had just occurred. The caller reported that she heard her garage door open and when she looked out her front window, she saw the suspect exiting her garage. A description was provided and the officer located the suspect on the 2900 block of California St . The 43 year old male was charged with burglary, possession of burglar tools and a probation violation.

NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
Between 05/14/12, 12am and 05/16/12, 7pm on the 300 block of 27th Ave , a suspect gained entry into a garage and took a bicycle. There were no signs of forced entry.

On 05/16/12 at 1:40am, the victims were on 19th Ave at Geary when a dark colored sedan pulled along side of
them. The passenger asked for directions and after the victims provided them, the passenger exited the vehicle, grabbed one of the victims arm and demanded his wallet. The suspect had his other hand in his pocket, simulating a weapon and then demanded the second victim’s purse. The suspects then fled in the vehicle. The passenger was described as a black male, 20-25yrs, 5’4”, the driver only as a male. The victims waited 8 hours before reporting this incident.

Between 05/16/12, 5:00am and 05/19/12, 12:30pm on the 2800 block of Jackson St, a suspect gained entry into a residence via an unlocked window, accessible from the fire escape. The suspect took a laptop, gold coins and a camera.

Between 05/16/12, 8pm and 05/17/12, 8am on the 3100 block of Fulton, a suspect entered an apartment building garage, possibly by hopping over a back fence. The suspect then broke into 2 vehicles parked inside and took cash and a GPS. The suspect also took a bike that had been locked up.

Between 05/17/12, 8:30pm and 05/18/12, 7am on the 2900 block of Jackson, the suspect pried open the main front door to an apartment building. The suspect then pried the door leading into the garage and broke into a car parked inside. The suspect took a briefcase and cell phone.

On 05/18/12 between 7:15am and 10:15pm, a suspect gained entry into a garage by unknown means. The suspect a window of a vehicle and took the garage remote and a pair of sunglasses.

Between 05/18/12, 10:30am and 05/19/12, 7:30pm, the suspect entered the lobby of an apartment on the 700 block of 20th Ave and took a bike that was parked within.

On 05/19/12, between 9am and 4:30pm on the 6000 block of California St, a suspect entered a garage of an apartment building and took a bike. It is unknown how the suspect gained entry.

Between 05/19/12, 10am and 05/21/12, 8:30am on the 200 block of 6th Ave the suspect gained entry into an apartment building garage and smashed a window of a car parked inside. The suspect took an iPod and sunglasses. The garage is open to the rear into the backyard and the suspect may have hopped the fence to get in.

Between 05/19/12, 8pm and 05/20/12, 9am on the 500 block of 24th Ave , the suspect gained entry into a garage by unknown means. The suspect took a bike, a portable barbeque grill, a six foot folding table, a case of beer, several bottles of wine and bike accessories.

On 05/20/12 at 3:40am officers responded to a call of an alarm on the 3200 block of Fulton . They saw that the locked on the front door had been punched and the door was ajar. They conducted a walk through, but the suspect had fled the scene. The owner of the business arrived and saw that a laptop had been taken.

On 05/22/12 between 1pm and 10pm on the 600 block of Lake St , a suspect entered a garage and broke into a vehicle parked inside by smashing the window. The suspect took a camera and sunglasses. There were no signs of forced entry.

Between 05/22/12, 10:30pm and 05/23/12, 7am on the 5500 block of California St, a suspect gained entry into a garage and took three bikes. There were no signs of forced entry.

On 05/23/12 between 6pm and 10pm on the 300 block of 2nd Ave , a suspect gained access into a garage by prying
open the top of the door and unlatching the emergency track release. The suspect broke the window of a car parked inside; however nothing was taken from the vehicle.

On 05/24/12 at 8:35pm, the victim was walking home on the 600 block of 4th Ave. He felt something at the back of his head and when he turned the two suspects were behind him, one holding a gun. The suspects demanded his property and the victim gave them his cash. The suspects were described as black males, 20yrs of age, one wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt, the other a blue jacket.

On 05/24/12 at 9:10 and employee was in a side room of a business on the 5200 block of Geary. He heard a knock at the front counter and walked to the front. He saw the two suspects standing there with ski masks on and one of them jumped over the counter and pointed a gun at the employee. He demanded that the employee give him the cash from the register and the victim complied. The suspects were wearing dark hooded sweatshirts and blue jeans. They fled east on Geary Bl.